Johannes Hahn: It is ‘legitimate’ to question Turkey’s accession to the EU

Doubts over further talks with Turkey on its accession to the EU are understandable given the way the country has reacted to a coup attempt earlier this month, according to Johannes Hahn, the European commissioner for enlargement.

“That’s a legitimate question that I often ask myself, if not every day,” Hahn told the Süddeutsche Zeitung in an interview published Friday.

Turkey must prove it has handled lawfully those suspected of participating in the coup attempt, Hahn said, adding: “If there is only the slightest doubt that this is not correct, the consequences will be imminent.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s forces have arrested or suspended tens of thousands of judges, prosecutors, journalists, teachers and soldiers in the wake of the attempted coup earlier this month, drawing criticism from world leaders.

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Alan

Rule of Law in relation to Poland, rule of political expediency in relation to Turkey ?

Posted on 7/29/16 | 9:53 AM CET

Maria Valentina Umer

Under no circumstances should the EU accept new members at this stage, least of all Turkey! It is about time to consolidate the current 27 and move on with EU projects emcompassing the. Bigger is not always better.

Posted on 7/29/16 | 11:16 AM CET

Tarit

What’s wrong with Turkey?

Posted on 7/29/16 | 1:06 PM CET

Karl Martell

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Turkey is neither geographically, nor culturally nor by its religious attitudes – a European country. The EU is way too big and bloated already. I would remove countries like Greece and Cyprus as soon as possible, and build a border wall separating Macedonia and Bulgaria from Greece.

That way any “migrants” would be stuck in Greece which is maybe even worse than where they come from.

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Posted on 7/29/16 | 5:35 PM CET

Tarit

Turkey should be given chance. They are kind warm people willing to join and live all over Europe.

Posted on 7/30/16 | 1:25 AM CET

merv

@Maria Valentina Umer

Weren’t you saying Europe Germany should welcome immigrants and Merkel was right in another article?

Posted on 7/30/16 | 1:27 AM CET

Nick the Greek

Before the Turks – Pre-Turkic history places Asia-Minor in the Byzantine (Greco-Roman) world.

Before the Turk – Anatolia boasted European (Christian) heritage with history to match.

Because Turkey is islamic now, does not diminish detract or devalue the regions Pre-Turkic (Christian) history and heritage.

Posted on 7/30/16 | 2:53 PM CET

Jodocus

The question of Turkey’s accession should be decided on basis of the EU’s interests. Not Turkey’s.
As I see it, Turkey’s accession to the EU is dangerous, problematic, and undesirable.

Dangerous beacuse it injects much hetergeneity that can paralise EU decision making and potentially kill the EU.

Problematic because of its long and porous border with the premier terrorist hotspots in the world and its conflict with the Kurds which shows signs of escalating into civil war.

Undesirable because of its rapid slide towards totalitarianism under Erdogan and its fading commitment for secularism (also under Erdogan).

Therefore, for the next 20-50 years I am opposed to Turkey’s accession simply for reasons of EU self-interest.